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belgium medals


coffmanb17

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a quick request , i have in the some medals, from belgium along with some paperwork, has anybody got the same ?, what were they awarded for ? the story handed down to me was they were for a unit not for one person . the name on the medal is sgt 113187 . H.J.Keene. . the  " P "special Co. R.E. is odd as well ?

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41 minutes ago, coffmanb17 said:

the name on the medal is sgt 113187 . H.J.Keene. . the  " P "special Co. R.E. is odd as well ?

 

Nothing odd about the above

The medal you have quoted belongs to Harry John Keen Sgt 133182 P Special Company Royal Engineers 

He has service documents which can be found on Ancestry along with his Mic and on the medal rolls

which will give you an insight into his service 

 

 

a search of the forum for special companies Royal Engineers should bring up a few threads on the units

 

 

Ray

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Dear All,

It was often - but not always - the case that a Croix de Guerre was awarded in addition to a higher Belgian decoration.

As a comparison, and further example, see the medal group, parchment, and entry for his French Croix de Guerre, to Capt G. B. Goyder, IARO, attd 36 (Ulster) Division.

322495929_2LtGoyderPunjabLtHorseca1910.jpg.de9ad387237421f466e9de0cc3cb1412.jpg1795937132_1917MiDCaptGoyder.jpg.334e263f69e22399fbfa38b070aa36df.jpg857777236_1919MiDCaptGoyder.thumb.jpg.03756b8a4e46a366656f42cbe2f11630.jpg1343949809_CaptG.B.GoyderCrown(B).jpg.adca752042d985f7c17c518c3aa30a4d.jpg609866243_G.B.Goyder1920Crown(B).jpg.e9ff77b1b2adbca057e250e1dc701961.jpg1171928293_CaptG.B.GoyderVD.JPG.646fd3692900f3a7189275f192a7a0d1.JPG703915444_CaptGoyderFr.CroixdeGuerre.jpg.8b7479e27d837ce17eb8fc662e844270.jpg412370275_MICbothsides.jpg.be53e9396f25f1cb97ef3a786a517983.jpgHe was the Asst. Provost Marshal, and was Mentioned in Despatches twice; all awards being published in the London Gazette.

George Barrett Goyder, of the Indian Finance Department, had his large Belgian award document framed.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

 

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Dear coffmanb17 (and Ray),

Sgt Harry Keane's 1917 Citation for the Belgian awards is shown at the foot of the parchment. 

The brief details note his courage in the Dixmude sector...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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Hi

Very nice group of medals, these are the London Gazette entries for the two Belgian medals and what appears to be his commission in July 1919

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/all-notices/London/notice?results-page-size=10&categorycode-all=all&numberOfLocationSearches=1&start-publish-date=1914-06-01&location-distance-1=1&text="Harry+John+Keene"&end-publish-date=1999-12-01

 

Approx 4,700 Belg CdG's awarded to British commonwealth forces for WW1 and approx. 370 order of Leopold II Chevalier (5th class) to the same.

 

But only approx. 130 servicemen were awarded both, so this is a very rare combination and considering that approx. half of all foreign awards were given to officers, more so as he was an other ranker.

As Kim states for bravery in the field. Local newspapers may give some info.

Peter

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  • 3 years later...

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